SCDC revealed today that it had received a letter from Laura Graham, the Planning Inspector examining the Draft Local Development Plan.

In her letter Ms Graham pointed out some inconsistencies in the plan as it stands and that the way in which the Council’s evidence base was presented did not give a clear understanding of how the various elements of sustainable development were assessed.

Over half a million pounds to be saved as first steps in strategic partnership announced

Sharing building control, legal and ICT services could save neighbouring councils over half a million pounds under a planned new strategic partnership.

In cabinet papers published today (Tuesday 1 July) by South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire district councils, senior council officers have said that shared services through a strategic partnership could improve resilience, provide specialist skills and deliver efficiency savings of up to 15% to help protect residents from the full force of national cuts to funding. (more…)

The result is official – I have held onto my seat in the recently concluded local elections in South Cambridgeshire District. The turnout was 46.15% of the electorate and it was good to see so many people turn out, despite the sometimes awful weather that we experienced during the day.

The final count took place on Friday 23rd with the results as Tumi Hawkins 551 (60.95%), Stephen Frost Conservatives 256 (28.32%) and Helen Crowther Labour 97 (10.73%). The full statistics is as shown below: (more…)

Hardly a day goes by without some politician being hauled up by the press for saying something they shouldn’t have said. This item about the UKIP Lewes Councillor Donna Edmunds came to my attention as it is trending on facebook, albeit with a slightly distorted version. So I figured I better investigate to get the full story. (more…)

The debate, if one can call it that, that took place on 13th March 2014 on the proposed draft local development plan ended in a vote that was closer than most people expected. I have already given you a flavour of what occurred in a previous article. The voting was recorded and following is the record of how (more…)

At the full council meeting held on Thursday 13th March 2014, councillors at South Cambridgeshire District Council voted by a small majority to accept the proposed draft local development plan and send it off to the Planning Inspector for examination. 27 councillors voted for, 21 against and 5 abstained. In short, 26 of the (more…)

It has been a long time coming …. and now I am pleased to say that superfast broadband has now reached parts of Highfields Caldecote where it previously seemed to have missed or been witheld! BT eventually got its act together following the visit to Caldecote by Mr Mike Galvin, Managing Director Network Investment, BT Openreach which